Part 1 – Research Oseltamivir What is it?
Oseltamivir is an antiviral drug is sold under the trade name TAMIFLUand is commonly used as a treatment for swine flu. It has also been used to treat and prevent Influenza virus A and Influenza virus B infection in over 50 million people since 1999. It is taken orally in capsules or as a suspension by patients one year and older whose flu symptoms have not exceeded more than two days. Oseltamivir can also be taken by people who may be exposed to the influenza but do not have symptoms yet.
How/ Where is it made? Oseltamivir is an artificial drug, manufactured by Swiss drugs company, Roche.The manufacturing of Tamiflu is very complicated and involves 10 major steps. Manufacturing takes approximately 6 - 8 months once all the raw materials have been found. The following (pasted from //http://www.rxlist.com/tamiflu-drug.htm//) is the ingredients used to produce the drug:
The drug is available as capsules containing 30 mg, 45 mg, or 75 mg oseltamivir for oral use, in the form of oseltamivir phosphate, and as a powder for oral suspension, which when constituted with water as directed contains 12 mg/mL oseltamivir base. In addition to the active ingredient, each capsule contains pregelatinized starch, talc, povidone K 30, croscarmellose sodium, and sodium stearyl fumarate. The 30 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, yellow iron oxide, and red iron oxide. The 45 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, and black iron oxide. The 75 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, and red iron oxide. Each capsule is printed with blue ink, which includes FD&C Blue No. 2 as the colorant. In addition to the active ingredient, the powder for oral suspension contains sorbitol, monosodium citrate, xanthan gum,titaniumioxide, tutti-frutti flavoring, sodium benzoate, andsaccharinsodium. Shikimic acid is the starting material of the Tamiflu production process. It is removed from the pods of the star anise (see below for photo). This process is managed by Roche suppliers. They use a specific type of anise grown in China’s four mountain provinces in the south west, which consists of Guanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan und Guizhou. This type provides a high purity and yield than ones grown elsewhere. The crop requires a humid, hot weather and high altitude, which is only available in the mountainous traditional growing area. 30 kilograms of anise gives 1 kilogram of Shikimic Acid.
Star Anise
Oseltamivir was originated in the United States, Canada and Switzerland during 1999/2000. More than 33 million patients have been treated with Oseltamivir in about 80 counties worldwide, which includes the United States, Japan, Canada, China, Australia, the EU, Switzerland and Latin America.
Structural Formula for Oseltamivir
What does this drug do to the body - the effects? Oseltamivir slows down the spreading of the influenza virus between cells in the body by stopping the virus from chemically cutting ties with its host cell. For flu treatment:When taken within two days of experiencing symptoms, TAMIFLU can help to stop the flu virus from spreading inside the patient’s body For flu prevention:When a person has been exposed to a patient with the flu, taking TAMIFLU can help keep the virus from making you sick. What dangers exist for users? Side-effects? Although Oseltamivir is not likely to cause dangerous side effects, there are concerns that this drug may cause dangerous psychological, health and neuropsychiatric side effects on patients. These effects occur in children more often than adults. Some possible side effects include:
abnormal behavior
hallucination
self harm
swelling in face or tongue
allergies
delusions
nightmares
confusion
altered level of consciousness
nausea
vomiting
seizures
According to Japan's Health Ministry, from 2004 to 2007, 15 people aged 10 - 19 have been injured or killed by jumps or falls from buildings after taking Oseltamivir. During 2007, they reported that (in Japan) 128 patients behaved abnormally after taking Oseltamivir since 2001:
43 were under 10 years old
57 were aged 10 to 19
28 were aged 20+
8 people, including 5 teens and 3 adults, had died from these actions
Other facts or vital statistics
Oseltamivir is taken orally in capsules or as a suspension
Adults felt better up to 30% faster (1.3 days) than flu patients who did not take TAMIFLU
Children felt better up to 26% faster (1.5 days) than flu patients who did not take TAMIFLU
The drug is most heavily prescribed in Japan, where it consumes 60% of the word's production
- changed font and layout
-corrected the bibliography.
Part 3 – Personal Reflection 1) List three things you learnt about drugs during this project.
Some side effects of drugs can be extremely dangerous
The term 'drug' refers not only to illegal drugs, but also legal ones
An interesting fact I learnt from Jennifer's Ecstasy research is that the penalty of making the drug can be 99 years in prison
2) List three things you would like to learn about in the future concerning drugs.
Why do people consume addictive drugs so often
Which age group consumes it the most
Why and how it affects our body
3) List three things you enjoy about using this learning environment (Wiki).
You can get motivated by other students' pages
It is an unusual way of learning because we don't often get to construct websites
Convenient - allows us to work on it at home and at school
4) List three things you dislike about using this learning environment (Wiki).
The formatting doesn't always work
If we forget to save, we lose all the information when the interent freezes
No privacy - Everyone can read what you type and see all your edits, including what time you go on
5) Do you prefer traditional written essays or creating a Wiki page for assessment? I prefer a Wiki page but I think creating a poster would be a great idea.
6) How do you feel about contributing to other people’s pages It's fun but sometimes other people already have the information/picture you give them.
7) How do you feel about other people contributing to your page? I think it’s great help in case we miss out any information, but sometimes they give you something you don't need.
8) How do you feel about self-assessment? We can learn how to reflect and evaluate on our work.
9) Which topic do you feel personally was more beneficial in semester one –drugs or love? Love is more beneficial because we are involved in it throughout our whole life, while I don't think I will actually get involved with harmful drugs.
10) If you could choose your own topics for PSE what would you like to study?
Oseltamivir
What is it?
Oseltamivir is an antiviral drug is sold under the trade name TAMIFLU and is commonly used as a treatment for swine flu. It has also been used to treat and prevent Influenza virus A and Influenza virus B infection in over 50 million people since 1999. It is taken orally in capsules or as a suspension by patients one year and older whose flu symptoms have not exceeded more than two days. Oseltamivir can also be taken by people who may be exposed to the influenza but do not have symptoms yet.
How/ Where is it made?
Oseltamivir is an artificial drug, manufactured by Swiss drugs company, Roche. The manufacturing of Tamiflu is very complicated and involves 10 major steps. Manufacturing takes approximately 6 - 8 months once all the raw materials have been found. The following (pasted from //http://www.rxlist.com/tamiflu-drug.htm//) is the ingredients used to produce the drug:
The drug is available as capsules containing 30 mg, 45 mg, or 75 mg oseltamivir for oral use, in the form of oseltamivir phosphate, and as a powder for oral suspension, which when constituted with water as directed contains 12 mg/mL oseltamivir base. In addition to the active ingredient, each capsule contains pregelatinized starch, talc, povidone K 30, croscarmellose sodium, and sodium stearyl fumarate. The 30 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, yellow iron oxide, and red iron oxide. The 45 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, and black iron oxide. The 75 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, and red iron oxide. Each capsule is printed with blue ink, which includes FD&C Blue No. 2 as the colorant. In addition to the active ingredient, the powder for oral suspension contains sorbitol, monosodium citrate, xanthan gum, titanium ioxide, tutti-frutti flavoring, sodium benzoate, and saccharin sodium.
Shikimic acid is the starting material of the Tamiflu production process. It is removed from the pods of the star anise (see below for photo). This process is managed by Roche suppliers. They use a specific type of anise grown in China’s four mountain provinces in the south west, which consists of Guanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan und Guizhou. This type provides a high purity and yield than ones grown elsewhere. The crop requires a humid, hot weather and high altitude, which is only available in the mountainous traditional growing area. 30 kilograms of anise gives 1 kilogram of Shikimic Acid.
Oseltamivir was originated in the United States, Canada and Switzerland during 1999/2000. More than 33 million patients have been treated with Oseltamivir in about 80 counties worldwide, which includes the United States, Japan, Canada, China, Australia, the EU, Switzerland and Latin America.
What does this drug do to the body - the effects?
Oseltamivir slows down the spreading of the influenza virus between cells in the body by stopping the virus from chemically cutting ties with its host cell.
For flu treatment: When taken within two days of experiencing symptoms, TAMIFLU can help to stop the flu virus from spreading inside the patient’s body
For flu prevention: When a person has been exposed to a patient with the flu, taking TAMIFLU can help keep the virus from making you sick.
What dangers exist for users? Side-effects?
Although Oseltamivir is not likely to cause dangerous side effects, there are concerns that this drug may cause dangerous psychological, health and neuropsychiatric side effects on patients. These effects occur in children more often than adults. Some possible side effects include:
According to Japan's Health Ministry, from 2004 to 2007, 15 people aged 10 - 19 have been injured or killed by jumps or falls from buildings after taking Oseltamivir. During 2007, they reported that (in Japan) 128 patients behaved abnormally after taking Oseltamivir since 2001:
Other facts or vital statistics
Bibliography
TAMIFLU for Flu Treatment and Prevention. 21 December 2009 <www.tamiflu.com >.
Oseltamivir. 21 December 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseltamivir >.
Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate). 21 December 2009 <http://www.rxlist.com/tamiflu-drug.htm >.
Herbal Extracts Plus. 21 December 2009 <www.herbalextractsplus.com/star-anise.cfm>.
Part 2 – Comments & Contribution
Comments
Contribution
- Vitamin C - Nuttanicha Panykawara: http://psedrugs.wikispaces.com/page/history/Ascorbic+acid+(vitamin+C)
- improved the layout.- Ecstasy - Jennifer Van: http://psedrugs.wikispaces.com/page/history/Ecstasy
- changed font and layout-corrected the bibliography.
Part 3 – Personal Reflection
1) List three things you learnt about drugs during this project.
2) List three things you would like to learn about in the future concerning drugs.
3) List three things you enjoy about using this learning environment (Wiki).
4) List three things you dislike about using this learning environment (Wiki).
5) Do you prefer traditional written essays or creating a Wiki page for assessment?
I prefer a Wiki page but I think creating a poster would be a great idea.
6) How do you feel about contributing to other people’s pages
It's fun but sometimes other people already have the information/picture you give them.
7) How do you feel about other people contributing to your page?
I think it’s great help in case we miss out any information, but sometimes they give you something you don't need.
8) How do you feel about self-assessment?
We can learn how to reflect and evaluate on our work.
9) Which topic do you feel personally was more beneficial in semester one – drugs or love?
Love is more beneficial because we are involved in it throughout our whole life, while I don't think I will actually get involved with harmful drugs.
10) If you could choose your own topics for PSE what would you like to study?